UCLA confirms Shabazz Muhammad will not make China trip

UCLA's Shabazz Muhammad will not travel with the team on its three-game… (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles…)

Shabazz Muhammad, the top-rated freshman on UCLA's basketball team, will not travel with the team to play exhibition games in China next week, the university confirmed Wednesday.

Muhammad is not allowed to play exhibitions with the Bruins because the NCAA is still investigating the circumstances of his recruitment.

Officials are trying to determine if he received improper benefits from the brother of an assistant coach at his high school or from a New York financial planner who helped fund a summer team on which Muhammad played.

The 6-foot-6 swingman has said that he expects to be cleared. UCLA sports department officials said they were not able to comment further.

In the meantime, the Bruins will leave for Beijing on Aug. 22 and will play a series of three games against two college teams and a professional team in Beijing and Shanghai over the ensuing week.